John allen



(No Model.)

J AL-LEN. BAND CUTTER.

Patented Oct N PETERS. Plwwuum n hur. Wnshimlom n. c.

Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ALLEN, OF NEW HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT E. SMITH, OF SAME PLACE. r

BAN D-CUTTE R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 287,212, dated October 23, 1883,

Application filed July 14,1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, J OHN ALLEN, residing in New Hartford, in the State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Cutters or N ipp ers for Severing Flat Iron Bands, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification.

My invention relates more particularly to cutters or nippers intended for severing fiat iron bands on cotton and other bales, but is also adapted for cutting iron bands on boxes and barrels, or for use wherever it is necessary to sever flat strips or bands of iron.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my cutter, showing the blades opened. Fig. 2 is a view of a cottonbale, showing the manner of using my improved cutter.

Much difficulty is experienced in severing the bands around cotton and other bales with the cuttersnow in use, from the fact that such bands are more or less deeply embedded in the material or covering of the bale, and it is difficult to insert one of the blades under the band or between it and the bale, which it is necessary to do in order to bring the band between the blades ofthe cutter, so that it can be severed, and also to keep the blades against the band while being cut.

My cutter or nipper differs from those heretofore used in construction and operation, and obviates to a great extent the difficulty before mentioned, and also cuts the bands more quickly and easily. Instead of grasping one edge of the band between the two blades, which requires the exertion of considerable force to keep one blade under the band and both against its edge, to effect its cutting, my nippers take hold of both edges of the band at the same time, so that the bringing together of the arms of the cutters forces the blade under the band, and also keeps the cutting-edges against it, as can best be understood by reference to the drawings, which show the position of the two blades in cutting the bands.

As will readily be seen,the difficulty of forcing the blade between the bale and the band, so as to bring it under the latter, is substan tially avoided with my cutter, and no matter how much the band may be embedded it can easily and quickly be severed.

As will be seen from the drawings, the two blades of the cutter are of different shapes. One of them (indicated by the letter A) has a hook-like point or projection, a, which is placed over or against one edge of the band, and acts as a point of resistance against which the cutting is effected. The other blade, C, is pointed, so as to be readily inserted under the opposite edge of the band, and is curved on its outer side, so as to easily pass under the band as the cutters are operated. By bring ing together the arms D E of the cutters, which should be long enough to secure effective leverage, or by bearing down the arm D, the cutter C is forced under the band, and V at the same time also against the cuttingedges of the blade A, and the band easily severed with 'a shearing cut, and at the same time, owing to the hook on the blade A, the band is firmly held between the blades until cut across.

From the peculiar shape and construction of the two blades or jaws, the nippers maintain a firm hold of the band while cutting, and no effort is required of the operator to keep the jaws in contact with the band. My improved cutters, therefore, not only readily sever the band when embedded in the bale, and consequently may be used as easily on round side or edge of the bale, where the band is most deeply embedded, but on account of their firm hold of the band while cutting, counteracting the tendency to slip off, may be used with less effort by the operator. These nippers also possess great advantage over the cutters in use at the present. time when used to cut the bands from boxes and barrels, where it is difficult to insert the blade under the band, as the blade is forced under the band by the same movement that effects the cutting. In such cases the band may be as easily severed with my cutters as when on the yielding bale.

What is claimed is- Aband nipper or cutter with pivoted blades, one provided with a downwardly-projecting IOO hook-liked point, to take and rest against one edge of the band, and the other having a tapering point, to pass under the opposite edge of the band, constructed and operated substantially as described.

Witnesses: JOHN ALLEN.

ORRIN Frrorr, ROBERT E. SMITH. 

